Plug Into Safety®

with LevitonTamper-Resistant (TR) Outlets

We hope this guide has been informative

in explaining the advantages of tamper-

resistant and weather-resistant outlets.

If you have any additional questions,

please contact our Customer Service line

at 1-800-367-5424, or visit our website

at www.leviton.com

You may also view an informative

video from the National Electrical

Manufacturers Association (NEMA) at

www.childoutletsafety.org/video.html

Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.201 North Service Road, Melville, NY 11747-3138Telephone: 1-800-367-5424 • FAX: 1-800-832-9538 Tech Line (8:30AM-7:00PM E.S.T. Monday-Friday): 1-800-824-3005

Leviton Manufacturing of Canada, Ltd.165 Hymus Boulevard, Pointe Claire, Quebec H9R 1E9Telephone: 1-800-469-7890 • FAX: 1-800-563-1853

Leviton S. de R.L. de C.V. Lago Tana 43, Mexico DF, Mexico CP 11290Telephone: (+52) 55-5082-1040 • Fax: (+52) 55-5386-1797www.leviton.com.mx

Visit our Website at: www.leviton.com© 2009 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.

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Upgrade to TR Outlets and Improve Child Safety at Home

When it comes to children and safety, you can’t be too careful. That’s why it’s important to upgrade your home with safer alternatives to standard outlets. New tamper-resistant outlets help protect children from electrical injuries that can occur when a child tries to insert a foreign object into an outlet. In 2008, the National Electrical Code® (NEC®) changed its requirements to mandate tamper-resistant outlets in new or renovated residential construction. It also revised its guidelines to specify weather-resistant (WR) outlets in damp or wet locations. TR and WR outlets combined with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) provide the highest known level of protection. Upgrading to these safety devices is affordable and easy to achieve.

Q. Why did the NEC mandate the use of tamper- resistant outlets in new or renovated residences?

A. It acted in response to a Consumer Product Safety Commission* study that documented claims of injuries each year to children, particularly those less than 10 years old, who attempt to insert foreign objects into outlets.

Q. Have tamper-resistant outlets been in use before this mandate?

A. They have been required in pediatric care areas since 2005.

Q. My home is not new and not being renovated, why should I have tamper-resistant or weather-resistant outlets installed?

A. TR outlets will provide a safer environment for everyone. The cost of an upgrade to TR outlets is negligible compared to the value of protecting chil-dren and reducing injuries due to electrical shock. WR outlets offer a higher level of safety outdoors.

Q. How do tamper-resistant outlets work?A. The shutters inside a TR outlet will not open

and allow access to the contacts in most cases unless a two-prong plug is inserted. This ensures that hairpins, keys or other ordinary household objects children might try to insert will usually be locked out.

Q. I have always used plastic caps or shuttered wallplates to childproof my home. Why aren’t these devices considered effective?

A. 1. Studies have shown that children over the age of two can easily remove plastic outlet caps. Also, sometimes adults forget to reinsert the caps, leaving the outlet exposed.

2. Shuttered wallplates add layers of material between the plug blades and the outlet contacts, which can cause potential heat rise. UL has withdrawn its listing from these wallplates.

Q. Why are tamper-resistant outlets considered safer than standard outlets?

A. Once installed, tamper-resistant outlets are permanent and offer continuous protection, even if a plug is removed. Because they are hard-wired, there’s no need to worry about inserting, losing or breaking the outlet. TR outlets are subjected to grueling and well-documented testing procedures created and certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more details.

* Ten-Year Study (1991-2001) of National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data. Over 24,000 children under 10 years old were treated in Emergency Rooms for incidents related to electrical outlets; averaging 2,400 per year, 7 per day.

Q. How do I recognize a tamper resistant or weather resistant outlet?

A. Tamper-resistant outlets are required to be clearly marked with either “TR” or “Tamper Resistant” on the outlet face. Weather-resistant outlets are marked “WR” to assure code compliance. There are also tamper/weather-resistant outlets and GFCIs with both markings.

Q. Do tamper-resistant outlets look different than standard outlets?

A. Cosmetically, TR outlets look exactly the same as standard ones except for the TR markings on the device. They come in a wide variety of designer and traditional styles and colors to match any décor. You’ll find a complete selection available, including combination devices and GFCIs.

Q. Are tamper-resistant outlets difficult to install in an existing home?

A. TR outlets are easy to retrofit and installation is identical to that of standard outlets. Any electrician will be able to install the device in a standard wall box.

Q. Are tamper-resistant outlets completely tamper proof?

A. They are the safest solution available today. We call them tamper resistant rather than tamper proof because there could be some situations in which the tamper-resistant mechanism could be compromised. There are no completely tamper-proof outlets on the market.